Shepherd has an entire office devoted to helping you further your own professional or academic career http://www.shepherd.edu/career-center Many tutorials around grad school and job topics are available (resume/CV, interviews, personal statements, etc.) http://www.shepherd.edu/career-center/tutorials You pay for these!! Shepherd’s fall career fair:
There are many different career paths available in the biological sciences Some of these are not obvious, but could be the most interesting and/or fulfilling to you In some cases education beyond the B.S. level is required
Career positions in biology (including salary, benefits, responsibilities) are generally commensurate with your level of experience and/or education Undergraduate student: internship (paid or unpaid) working with someone else B.S. or M.S. degree: technician/assistant; somewhat independent, performs key tasks within parameters set by the boss Ph.D./M.D.: guides overall mission, makes decisions
Many people are tired after four years of college and don’t want to go to more school… Consider whether you might want: To do advanced work in a subject (guide your own research/activities) A profession that requires specialization (skill set requires more advanced classes) A job that requires an advanced degree (e.g. some government positions) Graduate school directories: http://www.shepherd.edu/career-center/graduate-school
Academic and hospital research Biotechnology Dentistry Ecology Environmental science Food industries Forensic science Gov’t agencies (FBI, FDA, DNR, NASA, USDA) Graduate school Law Medicine Nursing Pharmaceuticals Physical therapy Physician assistant Public health Science writing or journalism Veterinary medicine Wildlife management Science Communication
Being a part of a new discovery is exciting! This course: give you the taste of a long-term research project Research careers are possible at many levels, in many settings, and in many different capacities Science has entered a new realm of BIG data combining data sets to understand larger patterns You might like a research career if you: Enjoy problem solving Working with your hands (in a lab or outside) Don’t mind an unconventional schedule
Biomedical Research: physiology, pharmacology, biochemistry, molecular biology, bacteriology, virology, anatomy, neuroscience, cell biology, developmental biology, oncology, genetics, immunology, space physiology, embryology, kinesiology Biological research in the field: agriculture, botany, horticulture, plant taxonomy, paleobotany, evolutionary biology, phycology, ecology, environmental science, ichthyology, forensic biology, forensic anthropology, parasitology, entomology, ornithology, marine biology, vertebrate zoology, herpetology, wildlife biology, invertebrate zoology, biophysics, bioethics, conservation science Data analytics: includes both fields above
The setting in which research is conducted determines the questions that will be investigated Each setting has advantages and disadvantages Academic – small primarily undergrad institution (Shepherd) Great freedom, undergrad students low budget, lack of equipment Academic – large research institution (WVU) Great freedom, advanced equipment, graduate students constant scramble for grant money Industrial – biotech, pharmaceutical, agriculture (Pfizer, Monsanto) Advanced equipment, staff focused on a single task No freedom Government (Department of Defense) Some degree of freedom Red tape, scramble for money
All levels of government (federal, state, local) employ biologists. Environmental regulator (rivers and streams, fish and wildlife, forest management) Park ranger or interpreter Water quality Waste management County extension agent Science policy Food safety Drug approval Occupational health and safety Biodefense Other careers work with gov’t to further scientific goals: Administrator/Researcher for a nonprofit or health group Lobbyist (science, technology, and education)
Educators teach others about biology and its impact on their lives K-12 teacher Technical training school teacher University/college professor Less formal science educator—museums, parks, internet Work with publishers on science outreach materials Work for nonprofit on science education outreach You might like an education career if you: Enjoy working with students Want to help shape the next generation of scientists Can communicate and present effectively
These positions provide support to others carrying out biological research or education Professional societies Grants administrator (government or nonprofit) University administrator (office of research, grants, compliance, safety) Project management at pharmaceutical or biotechnology company You might like an administrative career if you: Have strong organizational and writing skills Can communicate effectively with a variety of stakeholders
There are many forms of scientific writing and/or editing Scholarly publishing—editorial assistant Technical writing Marketing University or professional society media relations Government Journalism (including the internet) Scientific/medical illustration You might like a writing career if you: Are a strong written communicator Have outstanding research or investigative skills Enjoy working under deadlines
Pharmaceutical / Biotech / Medical Market Research Regulatory affairs Quality control Sales and marketing Product development and testing Aerospace Scientific Consultation Entrepreneurship Brewing Baking Law (patent, environmental, medical) Bioinformatics Biostatistics Public Relations
Figure out what you want to do with your life Just joking Come up with a list of 3 or 4 jobs or positions that interest you We’re going to use these in the next several classes to prepare job application materials